“God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life".
John 3:16

Friday, January 29, 2010

Rich or Poor

It is interesting that Jesus, in our devotional yesterday, did not try to keep the widow from giving all she had. It is especially interesting considering what He said a little earlier in Mark 12:38-40,

Then He said to them in His teaching, "Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."

You can hear the protection of God for widows in the voice of Jesus. You can hear His concern, and you can hear the judgment of God on those who manipulate, abuse, and take advantage of defenseless people and widows.

Yet, right on the heels of saying that, this widow gave all she had, which means she probably didn't even have anything left to buy foodfor a meal that night. With her gift of less than one penny, she had nothing left. And yet, Jesus said she gave more than everybody else.

Jesus did not give the slightest indication that she shouldn't have given an offering. He didn't run after her and say, "Now wait a minute, Ma'am! You shouldn't be doing this. You're a widow. God doesn't want this." On the contrary, it seems that He commended her for it, even calling her gift to the attention of the disciples.

Why do you suppose this lady would have given like that--all she had? I reckon because of her love for God and her love for the work of God.

Which is what Jesus looks for when we give, whether we are rich or poor.

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ABCs of Salvation

A. Admit you are a sinner. "There is no one righteous, not even one ... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:10,23. (See Romans 5:8; 6:23.)

Ask God's forgiveness. "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13

B. Believe in Jesus (put your trust in Him) as your only hope of salvation. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 (See John 14:6.)

Become a child of God by receiving Christ."To all who receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12 (See Revelation 3:20.)

C. Confess that Jesus is your Lord."If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9 (See verse 10.)

Parables of Jesus

A Parable is…

An earthly story with a heavenly purpose, a story or illustration set in everyday life that illustrates a profound moral or spiritual truth. Many of the parables were told in order to make truth clearer, but there were times when Jesus used them for the exact opposite reason – to mask the truth from the spiritual prideful.